Electronic shifting systems and methods

• US 9,540,071 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2014
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRAM LLC (SRAM International Corp.)
• Original Assignee: SRAM LLC (SRAM International Corp.)
• Inventors: Jordan, Brian, Squires, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMBY, RICHARD M
• Application Number:
  US14/534,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20150073625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/13 on rider-propelled cycles with additional electric propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/30 for providing power to equipment other than for propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/02 hand actuated arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/122 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/132 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/044 consisting of electrical switches or sensors range selectors with electric switches or sensors F16H59/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2003 Electrical actuator

Abstract

The invention provides a wireless control system for a bicycle, including at least one shift actuator generating an input signal when actuated and a master control unit transmitting a shift signal responsive to the input signal. At least one electromechanical gear changer is provided and includes a gear changer control unit. The gear changer control unit receives the shift signal from the master control unit and controls the at least one electromechanical gear changer corresponding to the received shift signal. The gear changer control unit listens for the shift signal during a part of an awake mode cycle time, the master control unit transmitting the shift signal for a message duration time which is greater than the awake mode cycle time.

Claims

1. A wireless control system for a bicycle, comprising:

at least one shift unit;

at least one electromechanical gear changer in wireless communication with the at least one shift unit;

a mode changing mechanism on the at least one electromechanical gear changer which when actuated causes the at least one electromechanical gear changer to enter a pairing mode;

a mechanism on the shift unit generating a signal that includes at least a device identity; and

a memory component operatively associated with the at least one electromechanical gear changer that stores the device identity such that the at least one electromechanical gear changer is paired with and is responsive to shift signals from the shift unit.

2. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the mode changing mechanism is a button.

3. The wireless control system of claim 2, wherein the button is actuated for a predetermined amount of time to enter the pairing mode.

4. The wireless control system of claim 2, wherein the at least one electromechanical gear changer includes a rear derailleur.

5. The wireless control system of claim 2, wherein the at least one electromechanical gear changer includes a rear derailleur and a front derailleur.

6. The wireless control system of claim 5, wherein the at least one shift unit includes a pair of shift units.

7. The wireless control system of claim 6, wherein each of the pair of shift units is paired with each of the rear derailleur and the front derailleur in four separate pairing events.

8. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the signal includes a device identity and a device type.

9. The wireless control system of claim 8, wherein the device type is one of a right shift unit and a left shift unit.

10. The wireless control system of claim 1, further comprising an indicator operatively associated with the at least one electromechanical gear changer indicating whether the at least one electromechanical gear changer is in a pairing mode or is not in a pairing mode.

11. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical gear changer includes a gear changer control unit that scans one or more communication channels for a signal corresponding to pairing when in the pairing mode.

12. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the memory component stores only one device identity at a time for each at least one shift unit.

13. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the signal is a shift signal.

14. In a wireless system with at least one electromechanical gear changer and at least one shift unit, a method of pairing the gear changer to the shift unit comprising:

entering a pairing mode of the at least one gear changer by actuating a mode changing mechanism that is in operative association with the at least one gear changer;

actuating the shift unit during the time that the gear changer is in the pairing mode to generate a signal, the signal including at least a device identity;

receiving the signal with the a gear changer control unit of the at least one electromechanical gear changer;

storing the device identity of the shift unit in the at least one electromechanical gear changer; and

exiting the pairing mode.